Ticket issuing machine



May 28, 1940. R. H. HELsEL TICKET IssUING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1o, .1938

Patented May 28', 1940 UNITED STATI-:s

azozgsvv TICKET ISSUIHNG MACHINE Reuben H. Helsel, Long slandv City,vN. Y., as-r signor to General rRegister Corporation, New. York, N. Y., a. corporation of Pennsylvaniaf Application August l1I),

, 10 Claims.

This invention relates to a ticket issuing machine, and particularly to a machine off-the type intended for the issue of single tickets or ofthe same number of tickets at each operation.

While machines designed to issue varying num-` bers of tickets and of motor drivenV type areat present commonly used in theaters .or thev like, there are various instances, as in connectionvwith travelling shows, where machines for issuing and recording the issue of tickets are-desired, but .where there may not be power availableifor driving motor operated machines, or wherey a Arelatively inexpensive machine must be used despite comparative slowness of operation, or the necesvsity for manually supplying the power required for the operation of the machine.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple machine ofthe manually operlated type which', .both in the mode cf issue of tickets and from the standpoint of the manipu lation by an operator, very closely resembles a m0 .tordriven type of machine. That is to say, it is the object of the invention to provide a machine in which tickets maybe issued vin very rapid succession and which requires relatively little power application by the operator over thatk required for the operation of motor driven machines. Heretofore, in the case of most hand operated machines the operator has been required to move `an actuating device such as a lever or the like through a considerable stroke and with the appli- `cation of a considerable. amountof force.- Thev operations of suchw machines, furthermore, are

In accordance with the present invention, the .v

application .of force for the useful purposes of Vadvancing a ticket strip and of severingthe same is very efficiently applied with the result that the operator with little effort may rapidly issuek tickets with the exertion of -little *morev force than that generally required in the operation of al motor driven machine. of the machine which constitutes the preferred embodiment of the invention, single tickets or,vat

any rate, the same number of tickets are issued at each operation, but it will lbe "obvious that `various features of the invention may be applied to the lissue of a plurality of tickets. y The above .general object, as-wellas vmorerspe Cutting of indi- In the particularform 1938,A Serial No. 224,046. I

(Cl. 164+48) Y cie objects of the invention, particularly relating to details of construction, will be apparent from the following descriptiomread in kconjunction with the accompanying drawing, inv which:

Figure 1 is a .vertical section througha ticket 5 issuing unit embodying the principlesofthe invention; f v j Figure 2 is a section taken on the plane the '-traceofvwhich is-indicated at 2-'2 in Figure 1;

and 'y ..10

Figure 3v isa section taken on thefplane the trace of which is indicated at 3,`3 in Figure` 1. f

There-is illustrated in the drawing a single unit which embodies .all ofthe operating mechanism of the` improved ticket issuing machine. 1 A plu- .L15 rality of such units maybe associated in -a hous- =ing beneath a top plate having openings of' conventional type. Since the enclosure ofrsuchunits :within housings, however, isfquiteconventional, .there are illustrated and. described. herein only .20

the details vof asin'gle'funit. .1.

The unit in its preferredr embodiment comprises vertical plates-i2 spacedl by'cross elements and providing bearings for various .movingl parts of vthe mechanism located between. the.plates., 25 Extending transversely between they plates there i -is a stud 4'on which is mounted thehub of a pinwheelx which Yis .provided with a plurality of pin members 8 "designed .toadvancel a perforated ticket strip between aliixed .guide Ill ,anda mov- .30 able guide Il., whichmay be lifted forthexinsertion yof the strip and the vlocation of holes therein uponzthe pins l8. Thevguides III and I I` serve fto .lead the strip between a fixed-knife I2 and a movable knife,- I4, the vlatter ofwhichfisguded 35 -uponmember I5 .and is held 'down' in contactwithy ythe fixed knife` `I2 bymeans kof fa ypushing link I8 pivoted to a bell crank lever ZI'I'hereafter` referred to and urged downwardly by a link 322 and a `spring 24 acting upon the link-.22.. j A .40

The hub' 6 of the pinwheel is 'provided with a Vplurality of axially extending .pins 26,there being one-pinforeach of the pins 8 o-f Athe vpinwheel. The pins '-26 are yarranged to bey engaged by a kvpawl 28- whiclrslides; upon a plate .hafxedgf, 'to one'of the plates 2 `vandis connectedat its rear vend with a spring 32 Areacting between it rand the frame to urgeit in a counterclockwise direction about its pivotal connection 34 with- .a lever,v 36 pivoted at 38 to the frame Iof thel50 machine. A link 40 .pivoted to thelever 36 is :provided with a slot 42,' .which embracesl a piny 44 carriedby `the/operating lever `lII. Alpinlflll is provided on the end ofthe link Mland .between .it and Vilffl 'P1111 '4.4 ihsiffafiefarraege fietsen .5.5

spring 58. Normally when the parts are in their raised position the pin 44 is pulled by the spring 56 into the forward end of the slot ll2 whereby it is arrested.

The operating lever 46 is provided with a manually engageable portion 52 whereby it may be depressed by the operator. The lever l5 is pivoted to the frame at 54 and is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 by means of the link 56 and tension spring 58, the latter of which is secured to a pin carried by the frame.

At its lower rear portion the lever 46 has pivoted to it at 66 a member 62, which is normally urged in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot 60 by a spring 64 to a position limited by contact of a stop pin 66 with the lower end of the lever 46. The member 62 is providedwith a turned portion 63 providing an ear, more clearly illustrated in Figure 3, which is adapted to engage a turned abutment I8 of a bar 'l2 xed to the forwardly extending leg of the bell crank 28, which is pivoted at 'I4 and urged by a spring 'I6 to an extreme clockwise position delimited by a stop pin '18. When the bell crank 2l) rests against the st-op pin 18 the movable knife I4 is over the fixed knife I2, as indicated.

The operating lever 46 is provided with a turned abutment 68 which normally lies at approximately the level of the turned portion 'I8 of the bar l2.

Each of the pins 8 of the pinwheel, which is preferably formed of sheet metal, is provided with a turned lip 82, one of which is designed to lie between the abutments i8 and 88 in any position of rest of the pinwheel. The relative location of the elements 68, "ill, 88 and 82 will be clear from a consideration of Figure 3.

A detent 84 is pivoted at 86 to the frame and normally urged in a counter-clockwise direction by means of a relatively weak spring 88, which causes the upper edge thereof to engage the forwardly extending arm of the bell crank 28. The lower end of the detent 84 has a hook portion 90 adapted to engage a corresponding hook 92 on the operating lever 46.

In order to lock the mechanism against operation there is provided a lever 94 pivoted at 96 to the frame and provided with a hook 98 adapted to engage within a notch ID in the forward end of the pawl 28. The lever 94 will be normally located below the usual top plate which is locked in position, and hence cannot be tampered with if the machine is locked by some authorized party.

The pinwheel is .preferably connected in conventional fashion by gearing to a suitable counter (not shown).

The operation of the improved ticket issuing machine may now be described. The ticket strip having perforations therein engageable with the pins 8 will be located between the guides i6 and II, preferably in such fashion that the knives will cut theA strip through the perforations in the usual fashion. While the machine as illustrated is primarily intended for the issue of single tickets, two or more tickets might be issued at each operation, providing, for example, duplicates where such are desired.

The parts initially are in the position illustrated in the figures. With the pin 44 in the end of the slot 42, there is no tension exerted on the lever 36 to advance the pawl 28. As the operating lever v46 is depressed by manual engagement of its operating end 52, 'the pin 44 is caused tomove rearwardly in the slot 42, whereby tension is applied through the spring 58 to the link 48, tending to move the pawl 28 rearwardly against the 4pin 26 which it engages.

ment I8 on the bell crank 28, rocking the bell crank counter-clockwise against the action of the spring '16. This, by reason of the engagement of the upper end of the bell crank with the rear portion of the movable blade I4 causes the blade Ill to move rearwardly, providing a passage between the blades I2 and I4 for the advance of the ticket strip. As the bell crank 26 moves counter-clockwise the detent member 84 follows it and ultimately the hook 96 may snap beneath the rising cooperating notch 92 of the operating lever, thus preventing it from moving in a counter-clockwise direction if released.

As depression of the operating lever 46 continues, the ear 68 of member 62 replaces the abutment 'I8 of the ybell crank 28 Ibehind the lip 82 of the pinwheel which now engages abutment 88. Eventually, the abutment of the operating lever 46 clears the lip 82 on the pinwheel and the complete operation of the mechanism then occurs with extreme rapidity.

First, due to the fact that a considerable amount of tension has now been put on the pawl .28 the pawl snaps rearwardly causing a rapid rotation of the pinwheel and thus advancing the ticket strip between the blades I2 and I4. The pinwheel can advance, however, only through the angular spacing between the pins because as the lip 82 subsequent to that which was heretofore held comes around it engages the gear 68 of the member 62, which yields only to the extent of its engagement with the operating lever 46 and then forms a positive stop for the pinwheel. In such position it is substantially vertically aligned with the abutment 88 of the operating lever 46.

When the lip 82 which strikes the ear 68 forces it forwardly, the abutment 10 on the bell crank 20 is released by ear 68, and consequently the bell crank may be urged in a clockwise direction by the spring 'I6 to effect operation of the movable blade to sever the ticket strip. It will be noted that the knife is not released unti-l the pinwheel has fully advanced to a position to engage the ear 68, and consequently premature operation of the knife Will not take lplace, but operation occurs only after the ticket strip has been properly advanced to position to be cut.

As the bell crank 2l) rocks clockwise, it will engage the detent 84, releasing its hook 90 from the notch 92 in the operating lever. If the knife failed to operate, due, for example, to accumulation of lint or the like, the detent would not be so released, and consequently the operating lever 46 would be prevented from returning to its initial position. This would mean that the machine could not be operated for the issue of* a succeeding ticket and warning would be given that the knife had failed to operate properly.

Following the severing, the operator may release the lever 46 and it will return to its original position under the actionl of the springv 58. As

les

the:.operating.1ever rises, the ear ofytheameme ber62 `vvill clear'the `lip .82 on the pinvvheelland Will move L rearwardly under the .,acrticn`1` offthe spring 641 to its original Ipositionibelovv the abutmentr 10 on. thebellcrankff. 'Ihe abutment '80. of-the operatingl lever .4d Willfollow it dov/ri- Wardlyin front of thelip 82 on thepinvvheel,` which, being located betweenrfill` andv ,.fWil1-b'e restrained against-both' forward andfrearward` movement. .Thusthereis 'no possibility of pulling the strip out. of vthemachine by 'free rotationf ofthepinwheel., Asr the lever de returns to its originaly position, the .paWl 28 Wiil-ride overl th'epin newly presented. to itv andfall infront of it dueto the action of the springffinfpreparation for the issue of `the next ticket. f

TheY successive steps in' the operation ofthe the operator can impart successive blows to the operating lever 46.

,A Despite the rapid action thus afforded the opc eration of the machine is very easy. Even though the movement of the operating lever isrelatively small, the tension is vapplied to'the spring 50 throughout the entire movement, serving to build upa quite considerable forcev for the advance of the pinwheel. In view of this Vconsiderable force, rotation-of the pinWheel is at a quite rapid rate and, as indicated above, the complete operation of the machine in advancing and severing the ticket strip takes place in a short interval which is, from the practical standpoint, of no operation-delaying consequence. f

While the preferred embodiment of the invention -has been described in detail, itis obvious that various changes may be made in details of construction Without .departing from the scope of the invention.

' What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: v .Y 1. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding and guiding a ticket strip, means forv v severing the ticket strip, means for simultaneously imparting operating stresses to said feeding means and said severing means, means preventing operating of the feeding means ,despite` the application of the stress thereto, means'rendering said preventing means inoperative, means for preventing operation of the severing means to sever the ticket strip despite the application of the stress thereto, and means for'rendering the last named means inoperative upon completion of the operation of thefeeding means to admeans for holding said feeding means 'against means for building up an operating stressupon said seveiingmeansi and means effective, toi-produce 'operationbf Asaidfs'evering rmeans 1due;t;oisaid stressgto .sever ,thej..:ti,cket, strip only aftert:,;the

movement; 1

3. A ticket issuing;machinecomprising; means ticket feeding means ,completesya ticketffeeding for feeding andguiding a ticket. strip,:m;eans Lfor severing` the ticket strip, means forbuildingfiip an operating'stress upon said feeding means, means Y fork `holding ,said feedinggmeans ,against i ticket feeding movements o during the 1 building. lup

of said zstress andthen releasingcilcie.lfeeding means for feeding..movement under-the stress,

means for buildingup an operatingstress upon said severing means including a pair :of engage-.- able elements, and means effective togproduce operation of said severing means due `V Lois-said ticket feeding means completes -.a;ti`cket feeding movement, saidlast means including means-,mov- :ing with the feeding meansV forA disruptingvth'e` engagement of said lengageable elements.

4. A ticket issuing machine comprisingvmeansA v for feeding and guiding a ticket strip, means yfor severing the ticket strip, means for building up an operating stress upon said feeding means,

means for holding said feedingvmeans against ticket feeding movements during the building. up of said stress and then releasing Athe feeding 'means for feeding movement under the stress,

means for building up an operating stress upon said severing means including apair of engageable elements, andmeans effective to produce operation of said severing means due to said stress to sever the ticket strip only after the ticket feeding means completes a ticket feeding movement, said last means including means moving with the feeding means for disrupting the engagement of said engageable elements, one of said'engageable elements serving to limit movement of said feeding. means., f V

5. A ticket'issuing machine comprisingmeans A for feeding y and guiding a ticket strip, means for severing the ticket strip, means for actuating said ticket feeding means, means for building up anoperating stress upon said severing means in'- f cluding a'pair of engageable elements, and means 1 only after the ticket feeding means completes f a ticket feeding movement, said last l,means including Vmeans movable With the Vfeeding means for breaking the engagement lof said engage-l able elements. i

6. A ticket issuing machine comprising means l for feeding and guiding a ticket strip, means for ering means due to Said-stress to sever the ticketr 'eifective tor produce operation of said severing means due to said stress to sever the ticket strip lstrip only after the ticket feeding means completes a ticket feeding movement,y said last means including means movable with the feeding means for disrupting theengagement ofv said engageable elements, one of said engageable elements serving to limit movement ofv saidV feeding means. y i

7. A ticket issuing means comprising means for feeding and guiding a ticket strip', means` for severing the ticket strip, means for actuatingy said feeding means, spring means for operating said'severing means, means-comprising a member'acting upon` said severing' means to stress said 75 spring means, and to prevent operation of the severing means under the action of the spring means'to sever the ticket strip, and means for discontinuing the action of said member upon the severing means when the feeding means completes a ticket feeding movement.

8. A ticket issuing means comprising means for feeding and guiding a ticket strip, means for severing the ticket strip, means for actuating said feeding means, spring means for operating said severing means, means comprising a member acting upon said severing means to stress said spring means and to prevent operation of the severing means under the action of the spring means to sever the ticket strip, and means for disrupting the action of said member upon the severing means when the feeding means completes a ticket feeding movement, said member serving to limit movement of said feeding means.

9. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding and guiding a ticket strip, means movable to apply a stress to the feeding means tending to move it to feed the ticket strip, means for preventing ticket feeding movements of said feeding means during application of the stress thereto, and means for effecting release of the feeding means from said preventing means through movement of said movable means after the stress is applied. ai

10. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding and guiding a ticket strip, means movable to apply a stress to the feeding means tending to move it to feed the ticket strip, means for preventing ticket feeding movements of said feeding means during application of the stress thereto, means for effecting release of the feeding means from said preventing meansv through movement of said movable means after the stress is applied, and means for arresting the ticket feeding movement of said feeding means following a predetermined feeding movement.

REUBEN H. HELSEL. 

